Katharine Nelson is an undergraduate student majoring in Violin Performance at Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, where she studies with Simin Ganatra. In 2023, she was a finalist in the JSOM Concerto Competition. In 2022, Katharine performed at the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra’s annual gala. In 2020, she was awarded Honorable Mention at the DuPage Symphony Orchestra Young Artist competition. In 2021 her quartet, Carmen, won second place at the Young Rembrandt’s Chamber Music Competition, was a finalist at the St. Paul Chamber Music Competition, and was a quarter-finalist at the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition. Her quartet was featured on Chicago’s classical music radio station WFMT on their Introductions program in 2021. She has taken master classes with Jorja Fleezanis, Lindsey Deutsch, Stephanie Arado, Nurit Pacht, Vadim Gluzman, Mikhail Kopelman, and both the Cavani and Verona String Quartets. Katharine is passionate about reaching and connecting with new listeners and students.

Katharine is the recipient of the Ann and Isidor Saslav Violin Scholarship in Honor of Mischa, The Arthur and Arlene Holden Scholarship for Chautauqua, and The Carnahan-Jackson Scholarship Fund.